Sixty-one teams competed in the 2013 Big Apple Memorial Six-A-Side Tournament at Aviator Sports & Recreation Complex in New York City during Memorial Day weekend. Competitions were held in four divisions: Women,Under-14, Under-16 and Under-19 Girls on Saturday and Sunday.

Last weekend’s weather was out of the norm for the event. The tournament has never experienced such hash weather conditions. Saturday consisted of persistent rain, sleet, gusting winds and the temperatures reaching as low as 40 °F if not lower all day.

On Sunday the weather decided to cooperate and those in attendance were able to experience more of what we are accustomed to blue skies, a gentle breeze and a temperature that was very comfortable. Warmer, drier and cooler weather, combined with an atmosphere created with music, good hockey, a carnival and vendors, is what draws athletes, family and friends to the event year after year.

The U-14 Finals were exciting and after a 0 – 0 score at the end of regulation, The Edge FHC claimed victory in a sudden-death penalty stroke competition.

U-14 Division:

1st Place: The Edge FHC2nd Place: Total Dutch

Both Hudson Valley Teams made it into the U-16 Divisions Semi-Finals but wereunable to reach the gold-medal match after being edged out by East Coast Tornadoes 2 – 1 and Jersey Intensity FH 2 – 1 on strokes after a 2 – 2 tie in regulation.

East Coast was able to hold off Jersey Intensity in the remaining minutes of the Finals to claim a 1 – 0 victory.

HV Extreme the 2012 tournament champions were not in attendance due to a schedule conflict with USA Field Hockey’s Women’s National Championship in Virginia Beach and as a result a new champion was crowned.

X-Calibur FHC, after experiencing a disappointed defeat in last year finals, returned with vengeance and determination and dominated the competition in the women’s division, ending with a victory over Misfits and being crowned Champions.

Women’s Division:

Semi-Finals:

X-Calibur FHC (4) vs NYIFHA (1)
Misfits (1) vs Spirit Eagles FHC (0)

Finals:

X-Calibur FHC (9) vs Misfits (0)

*Sudden-Death Penalty Strokes

The Big Apple Memorial Six-A-Side Tournament is held every year to honor the memory of those field hockey lovers who are no longer with us. They all contributed to hockey in their own way and are missed by all.

The trophy for the U-16 and U-19 girls divisions was donated by Rosemary and Michael Serrette in the name of their beloved daughter, Michele, who passed away in 1983 at the very young age of nine after getting hit by a ball while standing on the sidelines watching her father play in a tournament in Trinidad. “She always loved to watch her father play,” said her mom, Rosemary. “We want to encourage the kids to play because they are the future of the sport and that is why we have dedicated this trophy in honor of Michele.”

All these individuals were devoted to field hockey and contributed to the growth of the sport not just in the Tri-state area but throughout the USA.

Special thanks to all the umpires, technical staff and volunteers who worked tirelessly to make this event a huge success. We would also like to thank Dita Hockey, Defender Mouth guards, KB Designs, Hampton Inn JFK, Flatbush Volunteer Ambulance and the Aviator Sports and Recreation Complex for their continued support.